Aeroplane safety appliance



, Feb. 24, 1931. c. H. ROLKER AEROPLANE SAFETY AI PLIANGE Filed March 19, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Cfiarles Fofler A Horncy Feb. 2%, W31. c. H. ROLKER AEROPLANE SAFETY APPLIANCE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1930 Inventor Cizarles H Polka! A itorney Feb. 24, 1931; c. H. RQLKER 3 3 AEROPLANE SAFETY APPLIANCE Filed March 19, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 U Inventor AEROPLANE SAFETY APPLIANCE Filed March 18, 1930 l Inventor" Feb. 24, 1931. c. H. ROLKER AEROPLANE SAFETY APPLIANCE Invem'or 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 19, 1930 A llomey Patented Feh. I'Ml, 1931 m m P all h.

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CHARLES HENRY ROLE-"Elle, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA AEROLPLAN E SAFETY APPLIANCE Application filed March 19, 1930. Serial No. 437,089.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in aeroplane safety appliances and more particularly to a device of this character in the nature of a parachute and 5.has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a parachute arranged in the rear end portion of the fuselegs of the aeroplane in a manner to be expeditiously released to cause the plane to de scend slowly when the same has become disabled from any cause, thus avoiding material damage to the plane and injury to the occupants thereof.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an aeroplane safetyapplianee of the aforementioned character which will he simple in construction, strong, durable, eflicient in its use and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost on conventional types of aeroplanes without the necessity of materially changing or altering the same.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention may hecome apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein I Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section showing the fuselage of an aeroplane with a safety appliance in accordance with this invention installed therein.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary View in top plan showingran intermediate portion of the fuse lage frame and the forward portion of this invention mounted in position therein.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

. Figure 4 is a' cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a. cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view in vertical longitudinal section showing the main parachute and the pilot parachute mounted in position in the housings or casings provided therefor.

D Figure 7 is a horizontal longitlulinal sectlonal view taken suhstanlially on the line 7l' of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view showing the pilot or other occupant who has left the aeroplane descending by means of an individual parachute.

Figure 9 is a detail view in eross+eetior1 through the pilot ymi'achute.

Figure 10 is a detail view in perspective showing one of the connecting elements for coupling the main parachute to the frame Work of the aeroplane fuselage.

Figure 11 an enlarged detail view in section taken substantially on the line 11-l1 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail view in perspective showing one of the connecting brackets which is rigidly mounted on the longitudinal memhers (iii the fuselage frame for anchoring the parachute connecting rods thereto.

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail view in cross section taken suhstuntially on the line 13-13 of Figure 5. l oking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 1a is an enlarged detail view in perspective showing the ernn 'ilenieinary sec tion to the connecting rod illustrated in Figure 10 and which is anchored to the sup porting devices or hrarhets illustrated in Figures 12 and 13.

Figure 15 is a detail view in rear end elevas tion looking into the main parachute and pilot parachute casings.

Figure 16 is an enlarged detail view showing the neans of securing the releasing cable to the free end of the pilot parachute shaft.

Figure 17 is a detail view in cross'section taken. substantially on the line 17--li of Figure 9 showing the means of connecting the cahle to the pilot paraelnile which en tcndsto the main parachute,

l igure is a detail view in perspective of another of the elements for connecting the main 'mrachule to the lilseiaeje frame of the areoplaue.

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. maeere Figure 19 is a fragmentary detail view in. section showing the resilient means whereby the connecting rod illustrated in detail in Figures 10 and 141 are coupled together.

Figure 20 is a detail view in cross section taken substantially on the line 20-20 of- Figure 19 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 21 is a detail view in cross-section taken substantially on the line 21-21 of Fi me 19.

igure 22 is a detail View in cross-section showing the means for supporting the main parachute casing.

Figure 23 is a detail view in perspective showing the supporting means for the main parachute casing.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral 1. designates generally the fuselage of an aeroplane of the usual construction and including the longitudinally extending corner frame members :2 and the intermediate struts 3.

An elongated cylindrical metallic casing 41 is mounted longitudinally in the fuse age 1 at the rear thereof and said casing is pro vided with an open rear end which projects outwardly from the rear end of the fuselage beneath the elevator h of the aeroplane. As clearly seen in the drawings, the forward end of the lasing 4 is closed. its best illustrated in Figures 5, Q2 and 23 of the drawings. the casing 4: is supported in position in the fuselage 1 through the medium of a plurality or longitudinally spaced rings (3 which encircle the same and havt .iircumferentially spa ed apertured ears 7 formed integrally thereon for connecting the supporting wires or rods 8 thereto, said wires or rods having their opposite ends connected to the longitudinal members 2 of the fuselage at a point therein where the struts 3 are connected thereto. y

Formed integrally on the upper side of the casing 4 and on the rear end portion thereof is a comparatively small cylindrical casing 9 which is also openedat its rear end and closed at its forward end, as clearly indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings. The comparatively small casing 9 is adapted to house a pilot parachute 10 of the spring type which is illustrated in detail in Figure 9 of the drawings and comprises the resilient ribs 11 over which extends the cover 12, said ribs and the cover being mounted on one end portion of a shaft 13 and the free ends of the ribs 11 being secured to said shaft 13 at an intermediate portion thereof by the wires 14. The free end portion of the shaft 13 is provided with a circumferentially extending channel in which is disposed for rotation an annulus 15 (see Figure 17) to which is connected a cable 16 which extends into the casing 4 and is connected to the main parachute 17 which is folded and disposed in said casing 4.

The main parachute 1" is of conventional construction but is sufiiciently large for the use for which the same is intended. The cable 18 is coiled in the forward end portion of the casing i and connected to the main parachute 17 in the usual manner and said cable has one end secured to a rod 19 which is loosely mounted through the forward end wall of the casing through the medium'of an eye 20 (see Figure 18) which is threaded on to said rod 19. The opposite end of the rod 19 is provided with an integral eye 21 by means of which a ring 22 is loosely connected thereto.

Loosely connected to the ring 22 is a plurality of rods 23 having eyes 24 threaded on one end thereof for connection with said ring 22. Each of said rods 23 has its opposite end portion extending slidably into a. cage 25 and threaded thereon a circular head 26 adapted for longitudinal movement in the cage The cage 25 into which each of the rods 93 extends is threaded on the ad jacent end of another rod 27 which, as clearly illustrated in Figure 14 of the drawings. has its opposite end formed to provide furcations provided with aligned pairs of openings brace the opposed flange portion 30 of a bracket 31 (see Figures 12 and 13) which are secured by suitable means such as welding, to the longitudinal members 2 of the fuselage frame 1 at a point adjacent some of the struts 3. The flange portions 30 are provided with spaced openings 32 adapted for registry with the openings 29 of the furcations 28 for the passage of a securing element such as a rivet 33.

As illustrated to advantage in Figure 7 of the drawings, the casing 9 of the pilot parachute has journaled in its rear end portion and on diametrically opposite side the pulleys 341 over which is trained a cable 35 having an intermediate portion extending into the housing 9 and disposedthrough a resilient clip 36 mounted on the free end of the shaft 13 of the pilot parachute 10. The

' cable 35 extends longitudinally through the fuselage and has both of its ends connected to the lower end of an actuating lever 37 which is mounted in the pilot compartment of the fuselage. If desired. the cable may be trained over pulleys in the pilot compartment and provided with handle means to facilitate the gripping thereof when it is desired to release the parachute. The reference numeral 38 designates the pilot seat in Figure 1 of the drawings.

In use, should the aeroplane be disabled in flight, the operator gives the lever 37 a quick swinging movement in a manner to eject the pilot parachute 10 through the medium of the cable 35. When the pilot parachuteis free of the casing 9, the same automatically opens in the usual manner and pulls the main para- The furcations 28 are adapted to em-' men chute 17 out of the open rear" end of the ens-- in: el throljlgh the mei'limn of the emnie( -l',.i;: vahle 16, It sheuh'l be here mentioned fimt lhe (onsirnel'irm of the (lip 3 en the, free will of the shaft lfl of the pilnt pm'aeliutc is such "ti at the cable will be released tin-refrom after lhe pilet parzu'hule npensu When the main imrmrhute 1713 free (if the housing 4, the same opens and the memplnne is snp- "ported therefrom tln'onn'l Hie medium of lhe cable 18. rods '15), rin and the rolls: 23 and 27. The cmnpresl- 1. springs 39 which are (lhqmsed in the cage and encircle the.

end pm'liens of. lhe rod :23 mil have one end impinged ngg ninnltthe heads 6 and the apprisite end impinged against the end wall of the cage all for the QIHP'GFQ of absorbing the initial shock which occurs wi'ien the main parachute 17 first opens. Whenever m sihle. ii-he aeroplane shoull'l he put inm a stall just before releasing" the pziiiidin'te in order to reduce ihe resulting shock to a minimum. The wires or rods 8 whieh support the casing 4 will also function as diagonal cross braces for the fuselage frame, as will be apparent.

lit in helieved that the many fi ilimlh'w fi of an rmeroplzme safety applinnee eonnl incteil in accordance with this invention will he readily miclenatoeei, and although the "pin" erred einlnxiimenf; of the iz'n'enti m is as iilnsi'i'nlwl anti rleweilwd, it in 4; nnclen Flood (but eimnges in the ale. .l of construe what is e1aimedis:- 1. An aeroplane safety appliance oi? the sham ale-r described emnprisn'ig n, pan of cyliinlrieal casings mounted longilzuilinull lilo, fuselage of the aeroplane, said ens i having: open rear em 5 propel rem era-cl flint. funelnga nun; parachute nn'mnt l we of ihe musings a main elnvie {I in the olhe'r if the cz-isii vrzhle irpw-inl'i'wly euni'ieet-ing the main :inl'i piln'l pznwlmlen fingether, pulleys mounted m1 iil'n m Finally opposite side 0f the casings in wliieh Hie pilet paras-lime indispeseil ml; lhe rem end portion of said ensuing; and means for minimally ejecting the pilot parachute from the casing emnprising 1L en in nailing means connected to the mhle. l- 6 cable having inlennedisl'e "portions trained Wei. the pulleys and further having: intennediate pm'liun extending imfin lhe z. "in" in Whi l: the pilot parachute is nirmnlen and n i ively cnnneelecl in said pilot lllfll'llflilllu...

the main para chute, nmnunlly operable means for ejecting the pilot parachute. from the small casing, and means: for yiehlingly e01? neeting he main 1):: racliuie to the frame of lhe fuselage comprising a rod extending iniu the hnwaml end portion of the large easing", :1 enhle connecting said rod to the main pamclmte, a plurality of diverting reds 100501}; cennected t0 the forward end of the first named rod, and a. plm'nlil'y of rods slidzihly connected to the second named rod at one end and havingtheir opposite ends anchored to the fuselage frame, and compressible springs opvratively disposed between the connected ends of ihe SGCODd and third named rods.

In testimony wherenl I affix my si nature,

CHARLES TllliNRY ROLYIER. 

